As Freemasons, I believe that we are still fighting for a principle. Whilst we are no longer armed, wenevertheless employ our resources to the cause of social justice and the preservation of a moral way of life. Wecannot change everything in our society, but we can make a difference, person by person, family by family

Before I joined Freemasonry, I saw it as a secret society of intellectuals discussing political issues and trying to influence the world wherever they could. This could obviously not have been farther from the truth.

The Brotherhood was something that I knew of, without knowing or understanding what it was about, and the truth is that I was not much interested in investigating this further.

To my biggest surprise, one day, a good friend revealed to me that he was a Freemason. After discussing the topic on several occasions, and always facing the same “sorry, I can’t answer that,” he suggested that I join the Order and discover it by myself.

Being part of a secret society was, at that point, the most attractive aspect of it, as the curiosity to discover what it really was, became unbearable.

On a warm evening of November 2017, I met with my friend and the WM of his lodge, which would soon after become my mother lodge. I was given the opportunity to any ask questions openly; the answers to my questions; however, did nothing but trigger more questions.

Q. Is it a cult? I already have a religion; I don’t need another one!

A. It’s not a religion, but you must be a believer.

Q. Why?

A. Because we follow religious values in aiming to be a better man.

Q. But I already live by those values, why would I need Freemasonry then? Furthermore, I know many non-believers who are striving to be a good person.

A. Join, and you will see.

Q. What would be expected from me?

A. Join, and you will see.

Q. What would I get from it, and what would I bring to it?

A. Everyone gets and brings something different.

Q. Like what?

A. Join, and you will see.

Eventually, after validating that I could join and leave at any time if it was not for me, I decided to indeed join and see by myself.

What did I discover? Nothing that I expected.

People from all classes of society, all colors, all backgrounds, and all religions, meeting together around the same purpose.

I then realized that political discussions were not authorized and that my former perception of it was absolutely incorrect. Surprisingly, the main purpose was not to take advantage of but to give and share, which was really unexpected.

I am always striving to become a better man, with or without Freemasonry. Still, through Freemasonry, I can participate in making the world a better place, which does resonate with me.

When it comes to the rituals, some are passionate about the meaning behind the words, while I love to focus on delivering word perfect charges, which significantly helps me dealing with my ADHD.

Some are dedicated to giving their time to charity, but I prefer to support them financially rather than in person.

Eventually, I realised that what appeared to be the most frustrating answer at the time of my enquiry, “everyone gets something different. Join, and you will see”, actually appeared to be an absolute truth.

We all tend to mingle with people that are similar to us. Through Freemasonry, I am surrounded by people of all social classes, colors, or faiths. People who have different expectations and interests, but in the end, Freemasonry brings something special and personal to each and every one of us while still managing to connect us together to a much deeper level.

I am a Belgian and Israeli citizen; I started my career in finance in Belgium, moved to Switzerland, lived in Turkey, and eventually ended up as an advertiser in South Africa. Life is about openness, diversity, and changes to me; it is about growing by surrounding myself with people from all backgrounds, religions, and ethnicities; people with different visions and opinions, but who are nevertheless committed to living by the most important moral values, and this is exactly what Freemasonry is to me.

It is, therefore, an absolute privilege to be part of this amazing organization!

Let us make sure that those who we know and who are less fortunate than we are do not suffer excessively during this time. Let us ensure that we do not add to their troubles and that, within our means, we continue to support them wherever we can.

Difficult times generate innovative solutions and I am happy to say that the Brethren in Grand Lodge have risen to the challenge. We already have Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge committee meetings taking place through the internet and Lodges are following suit.

” Freemasonry is a lifelong contract to develop oneself, using the tools made available in the craft’s system of morality; in order to achieve perfect harmony with your brethren, and just service to your community and world.”

Freemasonry came to my attention in my high school days. I had history as my favorite subject, and our study of modern world history gave a lot of insight into the impact of men who had been members of the craft in the development of free thought, innovation and respect for human dignity as we know it today. Some would be mentioned in web pages of my further studies at the time to be members, and hence my interest in figuring out how this consistent highlighting of affiliation to the craft impacted on the conduct of these men and the accomplishments they attained.

As I carved my own road in this life, I would constantly question the basis of my moral compass. After all, we are following the example set by humans before us, and as humans, we all have mistakes that make it difficult to reconcile with the moral system to which we claim affiliation. As with every young man, I grew up with heroes to which the meeting thereof left much to be desired in terms of the humanity behind the public persona that is promoted as a result of their career accolades. This was further inflamed by the unrealistic expectation that the standard that they were failing to live up to was ground for how they measured the people under their custody.

I made a personal decision as a young man that as I pursue the ambitions and natural destiny that God has empowered me to attain, one of the things I would fight vehemently to retain is the will to be better, and the consciousness of my human frailty in order to remain grounded in faith.

Freemasonry has and continues to provide a basis from which one receives motivation and tools to develop and grow.

While our craft is enriched with ancient wisdom and secrets by which we communicate and recognize each other; the essence of our labour is in constantly being aware that none of us are perfect, but we have a standard by which we can weigh ourselves to ensure that all our efforts in life lead to just service to God, our Family, Community and our Brethren. From the first day that one is admitted into Masonry, it is imprinted in the heart of the initiate that the first duty of our labour in the craft is to always strive to know ourselves. This requires each man in our midst, to be honest with themselves and refuse the blindness that comes with the pride of opulence or achievement.

Only the man himself can truly know what is in his heart, and so only he can justly judge his intentions. We thus meet on the level to remind one another that regardless of our rank or fortune in this life, we are only as valuable as the truth we live in character and perseverance.

It is no wonder why the young man that I was a few years ago was drawn to world history. It is through this subject that I found the first examples of men who were consistently evolving as individuals, and inevitably, their journey inwardly was manifest into world-changing contributions to society. Such men can be seen in history, religion, arts, medical progression, technology and governance, to name a few sectors.

As we endeavour to develop as the human race, Freemasonry will continue to provide a system of morality that is time tested, for the answers to many of the questions of life that are presented to this generation, as it has for many generations past.

It is, therefore, an honor to be part of those men, in this lifetime, who can relay the story of how they belonged to a group of men who met on the premise that their goal is to be better and have dedicated to helping each other in the quest to achieve the common ideal to be better with each day.

We always inform our potential Candidates that the order of priority in our lives is: the Creator, our Family, our economic support system, and then Freemasonry. Every Brother has his priorities in life and I am sure that every one of us has challenges occurring on a daily basis.

I first learned about Freemasonry around 2013 via a program on the National Geographic channel. That started the curiosity as they were explaining that Freemasonry is a secret society. Following the program, I decided to research about Freemasonry, which is when I came across the website of the Grand Lodge of South Africa.

There I learned about the history of Freemasonry in South Africa and its principles. While reading, I felt a strong urge that this where I belong. Joining the Fraternity has changed my life for the better, and surely my wife can attest to this.

Freemasonry has made me less cynical, more patient, and a huge believer of Brotherly love, Relief and Truth. If you make Freemasonry a part of your life and follow the Principles of the Fraternity, it enriches your life and therefore changes your life.

Adam Makowski says: “It is good to know you can meet many like-minded people from across a broad selection of society knowing that you can trust them as though they are part of your family”.

I am very proud to be part of being a Freemason — a fraternity which does not have any religious or political bias.

To me, Freemasonry is a:

Place where men can learn Moral and Spiritual growth.

Place where Moral virtues are taught.

Place where you can learn Thy Self.

Place where men are taught to help the less fortunate.

Place where you Learn to be just at all times and do good for humankind.

As I conclude, I wish to share with you, the following by Albert Pike, author of Morals and Dogma:

God is the Eternal, Omnipotent, Immutable WISDOM and Supreme INTELLIGENCE and Exhaustless Love. Thou shalt honour Him by practising the virtues!

Thy religion shall be, to do good because it is a pleasure to thee, and not merely because it is a duty. Thou mayest become the friend of the wise man, thou shalt obey his precepts!

Thy soul is immortal! Thou shalt do nothing to degrade it!

Thou shalt unceasingly war against vice!

Thou shalt not do unto others that which thou wouldest not wish them to do unto thee!

Thou shalt be submissive to thy fortunes, and keep burning the light of wisdom!

Thou shalt honor thy parents!

Thou shalt pay respect and homage to the aged!

Thou shalt instruct the young!

Thou shalt protect and defend infancy and innocence!

Thou shalt cherish thy wife and thy children!

Thou shalt love thy country, and obey its laws!

Thy friend shall be to thee a second self! Misfortune shall not estrange thee from him! Thou shalt do for his memory whatever thou wouldest do for him, if he were living!

Over the festive season there was an outpouring of generosity in which many of the Brethren donated toys and other goods to needy children. Children who will probably never experience a festive season within a natural and loving family.

I’ve always struggled to accept life for what it appears to be. In part, I can thank my late mother who, for a long time as a single parent, taught us to question everything and find answers for yourself. While this did not always sit well with teachers in school. It did build a solid foundation of self-exploration and research to find the answers and our own direction in life.

The quest for answers led me on a long journey of research
into Freemasonry, a little more than 10 years to be exact. Why Freemasonry?
This I can chalk down to being involved in organizations which foster
camaraderie from a young age. From being a boy scout to joining the South
African Police Service many years later and on to working on the oil rigs all
over the world. There’s always been some form of camaraderie in my life.

Having heard and read all the fluff on the internet, I still felt something was missing from my life and found the website of the Grand Lodge of South Africa. There I found some of the answers as to what is missing from my life. I needed something to challenge me and push me to be a better version of myself daily, one of the foundation stones of Freemasonry.

After 12 months of attending the lodge’s meal after their
meeting, I was initiated on the 5th of July 2015 into the greatest order in the
world. Even though I spent years researching Freemasonry, nothing could prepare
me adequately for the awe-inspiring experience of the night. Even now, writing
about it, I still remember as if it happened last night. I knew on that night
that my path of personal discovery and improvement started.

Today, almost 5 years later, I am the Presiding Master of my lodge, the Treasurer for the Province and heavily involved in the development of the website of The Grand Lodge of South Africa. All of this though does not equal or outshine the pride I feel each time I stand in front of my Brethren in the lodge knowing that they are there for me, as I am there for them. The fellowship and brotherly love is truly something to marvel at and something our world most certainly could do with a lot more of.

Everyone has their own reasons for joining, some need
friendship while others, like myself, have the need to improve themselves
continually. Freemasonry gives me that. It gives me the tools using lessons
developed over more than 300 years to improve myself daily and make me a better
version of myself every day.

If there’s one lesson I can dispense that I have learned in
the last 4 odd years of being a Freemason, it will be that Freemasonry is not
for everyone. Sure it says we require applicants to be men of good repute, it
still does not mean Freemasonry is for everyone. Freemasonry is, in my opinion,
for those men who are good and genuinely want to be better. Those men who know
the value of the camaraderie he will experience and who are willing to work
daily at being a better man today than he was yesterday.

It is for those who understand that once initiated, you aren’t a Freemason for one night a month. You are Freemason for life, and the teachings should be implemented daily. It is for those who realize that being a Freemason is a way of life and its teachings should be reflected daily in all your dealings.

In a world where empathy, love, respect and moral values seem to have gone by the wayside, I believe Freemasonry stands tall as a shining last beacon of hope for humankind. Freemasonry has the tools to shape the good men of the world into better men who can change the course of the future to making the world a better place.

While searching for ways to better myself, I found the world’s oldest fraternity, using some of the earliest teachings in the world to make me a better man. To take the example of what I have been taught and use it to stand out amongst the non-members as something different. As a man who not only works daily to improve himself but also an example to the uninitiated, showing what is truly possible if you really put your mind and heart into it.

I believe that I have become a better man, a better father
and better husband through being a Freemason. The journey to self-improvement
is continuous, and I believe Freemasonry has set me on a lifelong course to
continuously do that just that.

Brethren, it’s the end of yet another year that seems to have flown by. It seems as if it was only last week Thursday that it was Easter! I wish everyone well over the festive period and may you find rest and refreshment for your soul. My heartfelt thanks for your support during the past year. It is most appreciated.